System, method and software product for ordering image products over a communication network from a plurality of different providers having various business relationships, using images stored on a digital storage device

ABSTRACT

The present invention is directed to a system, method, and software product for ordering of digital photo services over a communication network among a plurality of photo service providers from an order terminal using a digital image provided on a digital storage device, the digital storage device being associated with one of a plurality of business entities. The method including the steps of maintaining information with respect to business relationships between the photo service providers and the plurality of business entities and providing an offering at the order terminal based on the business relationship associated with the digital storage device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a Continuation-In-Part application of U.S. Ser. No. 09/939,369;filed Aug. 24, 2001; titled SYSTEM, METHOD AND SOFTWARE PRODUCT FORALLOWING A CONSUMER TO ORDER IMAGE PRODUCTS OVER A COMMUNICATION NETWORKFROM A PLURALITY OF DIFFERENT PROVIDERS; Inventors Lou Chavin, Howard E.Bussey, Philip Gerskovich, Mark S. Cook, Christopher M. Dobbs and DaleF. McIntyre which is the 111A application of Provisional ApplicationSer. No. 60/314,135 filed Aug. 22, 2001, titled SYSTEM, METHOD ANDSOFTWARE PRODUCT FOR ALLOWING A CONSUMER TO ORDER IMAGE PRODUCTS OVER ACOMMUNICATION NETWORK FROM A PLURALITY OF DIFFERENT PROVIDERS; InventorsLou Chavin, Howard E. Bussey, Christopher M. Dobbs and Dale F. McIntyre.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a system for ordering of digital imagesand/or image products over a communication network. In particular, theinvention allows individuals and/or businesses to order goods and/orservices over a communication network from a plurality of differentproviders, that offer the same and/or different goods and/or services,and that have various types of business relationships.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The consumer digital photography industry has the potential forsubstantial growth. Yet, today several factors are standing in the way,slowing the growth rate. These factors can be understood from theperspectives of both consumer issues and business issues.

Today, many consumers are ignorant of the benefits of digitalphotography. Many who know of it's existence still see it as something“high tech,” complex, and with limited usefulness—good for emailing, butnot capable of producing “normal pictures.” In particular, there is lowawareness that traditional prints—the kind they expect from film—can bemade from digital pictures.

Those who do understand its potential benefits are frustrated. Theirexperience with the digital photographic system is fraught withdifficulties. In particular, it is not obvious how to get prints in asimple manner. Printing service infrastructures are not widespread.Awareness of Internet printing services is low. Solutions that do existare closed, limited to a single provider, and therefore often limited interms of access, location, and features. The only alternative is the “doit yourself” route—investing in the necessary printer and supplies, andprinting at home. However, the consumer soon learns that this path hasdrawbacks. Supplies are expensive, the process takes time, trial anderror is often necessary, technical problems can arise, and the qualityand durability of the prints can be limited. Moreover, this route isonly open to the technically confident—and only those who own asufficiently capable computer and are willing to invest the time andeffort needed.

Many service providers in the industry are aware of these problems.However, each service provider has to go it alone, trying to solve theproblems single-handedly. A direct result is that each solution isincompatible with the next, as each provider tries to develop acompetitive advantage. Solutions are often proprietary, and incapable ofinteracting with one another. Establishing new business relationships,such as partnerships between various retailers and service providers,are made more difficult as a result. Furthermore, participants arerequired to invest in parts of the service supply chain that are notwithin their core competencies. Potential new and innovative serviceproviders in specific aspects of the service provider chain are lockedout, since they do not have the resources to offer a complete end-to-endsolution.

Perhaps worst of all, the consumers are not well served, since thechoices from any one provider are limited. For example, if a consumerestablishes an account with one particular Internet photo serviceprovider, and stores their digital images using that provider, they aretypically “locked into” using only that particular provider to providephoto services for those digital images. If a customer wants aparticular photo service that the provider does not offer, such asprinting their digital images as album pages, the customer mustestablish a new account with a second provider offering album pages, andalso store their images with the second provider. This takesconsiderable time and effort on the part of the consumer, and may bedifficult or impossible if the first provider scanned the customer'sfilm in order to provide the stored digital images. Therefore, thecustomer cannot easily order desired services, and the first providerloses a business opportunity.

The present invention encourages photo service providers to establishvarious types of business relationships with business entities (such asretail store owners and device or software suppliers) who controlvarious types of order terminals, (such as photo kiosks, portabledigital imaging devices, or home PCs running application software).These business relationships are provided in a directory. The directoryenables the order terminals controlled by different business entities(e.g. different retailers) to access a number of different photo serviceproviders which have established a cooperative business relationshipwith the business entity, while blocking access to photo serviceproviders that have a hostile business relationship. As a result, acustomer has more choices of service providers, and can choose from awide range of photo products offered by numerous service providers.

The present invention provides a system, method and software solutionthat links order terminals, such as retail photo kiosks, home PCs, andportable imaging devices together with service providers, such asInternet storage and printing providers, and retail photo finishingproviders. It provides a mechanism to define business relationshipsbetween the business entities providing the order terminal, and theservice providers to ensure that only appropriate providers can beaccessed from a particular order terminal. It supports the ability forbilling and payment information to flow around the system that giveseconomic incentives for participants to work together.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a method for ordering of digital photo services over acommunication network among a plurality of photo service providers froman order terminal using a digital image provided on a digital storagedevice, the digital storage device being associated with one of aplurality of business entities, comprising:

maintaining information with respect to business relationships betweenthe photo service providers and the plurality of business entities; and

providing an offering at the order terminal based on the businessrelationship associated with the digital storage device.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a system for A system for facilitating ordering of digitalphoto services over a communication network by a user among a pluralityof photo service providers from an order terminal using a digital imageprovided on a digital storage device, the digital storage device beingassociated with one of a plurality of business entities, comprising:

a control system for maintaining information with respect to businessrelationships between the photo service providers and the plurality ofbusiness entities, the control system having a communication device forcommunicating with the order terminal over the communication network,the order terminal being used by the user displaying an offering basedon the business relationships associated with the digital storagedevice.

In accordance of a further aspect of the present invention a computersoftware program having instructions such when loaded on to a computerthe program will implementing a method for method for ordering ofdigital photo services over a communication network among a plurality ofphoto service providers from an order terminal using a digital imageprovided on a digital storage device, the digital storage device beingassociated with one of a plurality of business entities, the methodcomprising:

maintaining information with respect to business relationships betweenthe photo service providers and the plurality of business entities; and

providing an offering at the order terminal based on the businessrelationship associated with the digital storage device.

These and other aspects, objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will be more clearly understood and appreciated from a reviewof the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments andappended claims, and by reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the detailed description of the preferred embodiments of theinvention presented below, reference is made to the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is diagram of a generalized system made in accordance with thepresent invention; and

FIG. 2 is diagram of component architecture of the system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a first embodiment of a system made inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of a first embodiment of a method made inaccordance with the present invention, using the system of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a diagram of a directory of service providers and orderterminals, which includes information defining business relationships.

FIG. 6A-D is a diagram of depicting a display of offerings on four orderterminals controller by four different business entities.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a second embodiment of a system made inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram of a second embodiment of a method made inaccordance with the present invention, using the system of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a third embodiment of a system made inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flow diagram of a third embodiment of a method made inaccordance with the present invention, using the system of FIG. 9.

DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a system 10 made in accordancewith the present invention. The system 10 is designed to provideextensive offerings of image products and services from a plurality ofdifferent photographic service providers. The system 10 allows anindividual service provider to concentrate on providing the goods and/orservices for which they have core competencies. The system 10 alsoallows a member service provider to offer their customers the goodsand/or services of other member providers with which they haveestablished a cooperative business relationship, while blocking accessto member providers which have a hostile relationship with thatindividual service provider. The system 10 uses standards and protocolsthat are followed by the members for the transmission of images andorders over the communication network so that the various members caneasily exchange or provide information to other members and/or users. Inaddition, the system 10 permits the providers to offer services to apotential broader range of customers. The system 10 further allows thecustomer to create inquires so that orders can be fulfilled by a serviceprovider that meets the criteria provided by the customer.

The system 10 includes a service manager 12 that provides severalfunctions. In the embodiment illustrated, service manager 12 comprisesis a computer/server having appropriate software programs for operationin accordance with the present invention. The service manager 12provides a services directory of various services/goods that may beobtained from member providers through the system 10. Each memberprovider (photo service provider) registers with the service manager 12setting forth the type of goods and services it can provide. Additionalinformation may be provided by the member provider, such as location,hours of operation, costs, delivery options or any other information theservice provider believes may be useful by a potential purchaser. Thismay also include specific information that is viewed by potentialpurchasers. For example, one price list may be reserved for a wholesalebusiness and one for a retail customer. Or different price lists may beused depending on the business relationships, as will be describedlater.

The information concerning services/goods is stored by the servicemanager 12 in a manner that allows members and customers to search theinformation to find a provider that best matches their needs andrequirements for goods and/or services.

The service manager 12 is accessible by various member providers 16, 18,20, 22, 24, 26, and customers/users 28, 30 and 32 over a commoncommunication network 14. In the embodiment illustrated, thecommunication network 14 comprises the Internet. However, anyappropriate communication network may be utilized such as a local areanetwork (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN). In order for memberproviders 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 and 26 to be accessed through the system10, they must have registered with the service manager 12 providing theappropriate required information and optional information that isallowed. The registration process includes an agreement by the providerto follow the technical standards and business practices set forth bythe system 10. In the embodiment illustrated, member providers 16, 18,and 20 are service providers that provide various photographic relatedgoods and/or services. The member providers 16, 18, and 20 may provide afull range of photographic goods and/or services, provide only a fewservices, or provide specialty goods and/or services. For illustrativepurposes only, member provider 16 may provide a full range ofphotographic prints and/or services, whereas member provider 18 mayprovide only large prints and framing and member provider 20 may providenovelty products such as mugs, T-shirts, hats, etc having custom imagesthereon.

Member provider 22 in the embodiment illustrated is an access providerthat stores high resolution digital images that can be accessed by othermember providers and/or users. The member provider 22 may charge thesemembers and/or users for storage and/or access to the digital images inany manner deemed appropriate. For example, but not by way oflimitation, charges may be assessed to the owner of the digital imageand/or to the entity accessing the image.

Member provider 24 in the embodiment illustrated is a promotion providerthat makes available to customers or other members promotions withrespect to the purchase of goods and/or services. For example, themember provider 24 provides a promotion to member provider 16 for acustomer that purchases goods and/or services through or from memberprovider 16. A fee may be paid by member 24 to access member provider 16or to the service manager 12. Also a fee usually incurred by thecustomer can be subsidized or paid by the member provider 24.

Member provider 26 is an image owner that has ownership rights to imagesthat it stores or that is stored on his behalf at member provider 22.Member provider 26 may collect fees from a user or another memberprovider in exchange for granting the right to use digital images thatit owns.

Customers/users 28, 30, and 32 represents various users connected tosystem 10 for the placing of orders for goods and/or services withrespect to digital images. The customers/users may use different typesof order terminals to place their order. In particular, users 28 and 30represent two separate customers using personal computers that haveappropriate software for communication over the internet 14 andinteracting with the various member providers and service manager 12. Inthis case, the personal computers serve as order terminals.Customer/user 32 is a computer terminal typically located at retail orpublic available site. In the embodiment illustrated, customer 32 isusing a kiosk for communication with system 10. The images may beprovided by the customer directly to the kiosk or may be accessed from adigital storage location that is near or remote from the customer. Forexample, the digital images may be stored by access provider 22.

In the event that member provider 16 requires an additional service fromanother member provider such as member provider 18, it may be necessaryto transfer a partially completed order between member providers. It ispreferable that the additional service be provided over thecommunication network 14. However, in some cases this may not be anoption. For example, but not by way of limitation, member provider 16may produce an enlargement of a customer supplied digital image. Tocomplete the order, member provider 16 requests the framing serviceoffered by member provider 18. To complete the order, the enlargementwith associated order information must be physically transported tomember provider 18 via delivery transport 34 such as a vehicle. Once therequested frame is combined with the enlargement, the completed ordercan then be shipped back to provider 16 for delivery to the recipient orshipped directly from member provider 18 using the information regardingorder delivery collected by member provider 16 to the recipient.

Referring to FIG. 2, there is illustrated a diagram of the componentarchitecture of the system of FIG. 1. The system 10 can be considered asbeing divided into types of components. The components include orderterminals 40, which consist of software and devices for the creating andplacing of orders. For example, a customer may place an order using acomputer, such a personal computer, running a desktop softwareapplication 42, which establishes a connection with system 10. Device 44comprises various other electronic devices capable of communicating withsystem 10 such as, but not limited to digital cameras, digital imageenabled phones, digital picture frames, and personal digital assistants.These are typically portable digital imaging devices which enabledigital images to be viewed, and enable a user to interact with thedevice to place an order for photo services using one or more digitalimages. Device 46 represents a kiosk having an appropriate userinterface and a communication interface for communicating with system 10thereby allowing a user of the kiosk to create and place an order forgoods and/or services. Alternatively, device 46 may comprise a digitalmini-lab having appropriate communication software thereby allowing aretailer and/or customer to create and place an order for goods and/orservices within system 10. In an alternate form of use of a personalcomputer, a customer at block 48 may run a software application via aconventional web browser such as Netscape Navigator for gaining entry tosystem 10.

Continuing with FIG. 2, a middle layer 50 represents the functionalityof the service manager 12. Middle layer 50 is partitioned intofunctional blocks 54, 56, and 58. As illustrated, each of blocks 54, 56,and 58 can reside on different web servers (not shown) each with theirown interface to the communication network 14 and system 10. Suchpartitioning allows the system 10 and service manager 12 to scale morereadily as network traffic increases. However, functional blocks 54, 56,and 58 can alternatively reside on a single web server/computer (notshown) when serving locations with lower network demand. Block 54comprises a directory/list of all available services within system 10and includes the database functionality of all the registered memberproviders and their related information such as unique member ID,service capability, costs of goods/services, delivery capability etc.,etc. It is to be understood that a member provider can represent agroup/chain of commonly branded and/or owned stores, for example, achain of drug stores, discount stores, etc. In this case the uniquemember ID may further include an additional code/number to designatespecific store site within the chain. The registration informationprovided by the provider includes required information of the memberprovider and any optional information that is allowed by manager 12.Block 54 can be queried from the communication network 14 andcommunicates with Blocks 56 and 58 to assist users and/or memberproviders to select the proper combination of member providers tocomplete an order as will be described later herein. The registrationinformation provided by the service provider can include informationdescribing one or more business relationships that the service providerhas established with particular business entities. Such relationshipsmay can be friendly or hostile relationships.

Block 56 represents a unique service available within system 10 and isknown as a locator service or simply a locator. The locator functions toprovide and receive criteria from users and/or member providers. Thecriteria is then formed into filters that can be applied to the servicesdirectory database of block 54. Block 54 returns a list of memberproviders to the locator of block 56 matching the provided criteria. Anexample of a criterion provided by the locator is the physical proximityof the member provider to the service requestor. It should be understoodthat the criteria may comprise a list of various desired criterion. Inaddition, the service manager 12 may set predetermined sets of variouscriteria/criterion that can simply selection of a particular provider.This allows the system 10 to offer well know feature that are market tobroad consumer base, for example, a branded feature, such as Kodak'sColor Watch™ system for producing prints.

Block 58 provides member validation services to requesting memberproviders to prevent fraud by validating that a member provider is alegitimate registered member or customer in good standing. Thisinformation can also be used to regulate pricing to specific classes ofservice requesters in order to differentiate between wholesale, retailand user level service requests, and to differentiate based on thebusiness relationship between the business entity.

Continuing with FIG. 2, a bottom layer 60 is shown which represents allthe various services and member providers provided by the system 10.Bottom layer 60 includes a plurality of services 62, 64, 66, 68, and 70.In the particular embodiment illustrated, service 62 provides for theability of creating an order on behalf of a requestor. The ordercreation services may be provided by any of the member providers 16, 18,20, 22, 24, and 26. For example, the order creation may result from theuser accessing member provider 22 who then processes the order by havingthe appropriate member provider providing the requested goods and/orservices. Alternatively, the order creation may occur directly with anyof the other member providers as appropriate for that member provider.

Service block 64 represents the fulfillment of goods and/or services fora requester. The actual fulfillment of goods and/or services will beprovided by any of the registered member providers capable of providingthe required goods and/or services.

Service block 66 represents where the digital images are stored. In theparticular embodiment illustrated, this is provided by member provider22. However, it will be understood that any of the member providers ofsystem 10 can store and provide access to digital images.

Service block 68 represents a system whereby a provider provides goodsand/or services to a customer to which it is not directly affiliatedwith. The system 10 provides for an optional guarantee of payment forservices provided by member providers that guarantees payment to arequested member provider who produces the requested goods and/orservices from the requesting member provider. The accountability ofcredit guarantors stabilizes a large system such as system 10 wheredifferent member providers can be located globally and have no formalbusiness relationship with each other. Defaulting on the payment fordelivered goods and/or services by a requesting member provider causesservice manager 12 to negatively impact the credit rating of thedefaulting member provider, and may include removing the member from theDirectory list. In addition, the manager 12 can assess a fee against amember provider to be credited against the cost of goods and/or servicesdelivered. Periodic renewals of member provider registrations can have ahigher fee associated with member providers with a history of defaultingor late payments.

Service block 70 represents a credit and quality of service performancehistory available to requesting and/or authorized member providers orcustomers. This rating may be of value in determining the choice of amember provider and used as a criterion by the locator of block 56. Theservice request can have an associated fee with the retrieval of therequested information.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a first embodiment of a system made inaccordance with the present invention. In this embodiment, a pluralityof order terminals 40 are connected to the communications network 14.Each order terminal 40 is associated with a particular business entity.A plurality of service providers 60 are also connected to thecommunications network 14. The service providers 60 include a first (#1)service provider 15, a second (#2) service provider 17, and third (#3)service provider 19, a fourth (#4) service provider 21, and a fifth (#5)service provider 23. The service manager 12 includes a directory thatprovides information describing the business relationships between thebusiness entities associated with each order terminal 40 and the serviceproviders 60.

Order terminal 81 is a photo kiosk associated with business entity A(retailer A). It can be located inside a store owned by retailer A. Forexample, retailer A may own a large chain of drugstores, and orderterminal 81 may be owned or leased by retailer A and located in one ofthese drugstores. Order terminal 81 includes a display screen 91 that isused to display an offering of goods or services to a user. Orderterminal 83 is a second photo kiosk associated with a different businessentity B (retailer B). For example, retailer B may own a different,competing chain of drugstores. In this case, photo kiosk 83 can belocated inside one of the drugstores owned by retailer B. Order terminal83 includes a display screen 93, which is also used to display anoffering of goods or services to a user. In many cases, retailer A andretailer B have a hostile (e.g. competitive) relationship. For example,Retailer A would typically does not want customers to come into theirstore and use their photo kiosk 81 to access services provided byretailer B. Therefore, the offerings displayed on the display screens 91and 93 need to be customized in view of the business relationshipsbetween the business entities associated with the order terminals 40 andthe service providers 60.

Many different types of order terminals 40 are possible. For example,order terminal 85 is an ATM (automatic teller machine) that can belocated in a public area. In addition to providing banking services,order terminal 85 can also enable a user to order photo services. Orderterminal 85 includes a display screen 95, which is used to display anoffering of goods or services to a user. The business entity C can be abank, or an independent business which owns or rents ATM type kiosks.Order terminal 87 is an example of a portable wireless imaging devicewhich can be used to place an order for goods or services. The devicecan be a cell phone, personal digital assistance (PDA), digital camera,or other type of wireless device. The business entity D associated withthe order terminal 87 can be the company that manufactured the device,the company that marketed the device, the retailer that sold the device,or a company that is renting the device to the user. It is understoodthat many other types of order terminals are possible, including imagingdevices, such as digital cameras and home computers that are wired tothe communications network, home television set-top boxes or video gameboxes connected to the internet, and other internet connectedappliances.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of a first embodiment of a method made inaccordance with the present invention, using the system of FIG. 3. Inblock 100, the business entities associated with the order terminals 40,the service providers 60, and the parties controlling the servicemanager 12 agree on the protocols to be followed by the system, as wasdescribed earlier in relation to FIGS. 1-2, and introduce networkconnected equipment and services conforming to these protocols.

In block 102, business relationships are established between the serviceproviders and the business entities associated with the order terminals40. For example, but not by way of limitation, the businessrelationships can include a “domestic” relationship, where the samebusiness entity that is associated with the order terminal is alsoassociated with the service provider. For example, a retailer may bothown or lease many photo kiosk order terminals, and own or control anon-line photo service provider. In this case, the retailer typicallyprefers to preferentially feature the service provider they areassociated with, when listing services on their order terminals.

The business relationships can also include a hostile (e.g. competitive)relationship. For example, a company (for example retailer A) that ownsor controls an on-line photo service provider can also own a chain ofstores that are major competitors to the business entity (for exampleretailer B) that owns or leases many photo kiosk order terminals. Inthis case, the retailer B might prefer that their order terminalspreclude users from accessing services provided by retailer.

The business relationships can also include a “friendly” relationship.For example, a service provider could have established a “strategicrelationship” with a particular retailer that is associated withparticular order terminals. Finally, the business relationships can alsoinclude a “neutral” relationship. A service provider may choose to offerdifferent prices for the same services, depending on whether the orderis placed from an order terminal associated with a domestic, a friendly,or a neutral business relationship.

In block 104, the service manager 12 populates and maintains a directorythat provides the business relationships between a plurality of businessentities associated with the order terminals 40, and the serviceproviders 60. An example of such a directory is shown in FIG. 5. It willbe understood that in alternative embodiments, the directory can bemaintained in a various ways, for example by using a distributeddirectory. For example, in some alternative embodiments, the directoryinformation describing specific business relationships can be stored ineach order terminal 60. However, this is not preferred because of thedifficulty of updating the directory in each order terminal as serviceproviders change their offerings, and as new service providers are addedto the system. It will further be understood that the informationmaintained by system 10 with respect to the business relationshipsbetween the business entities and the service providers can be stored inways that do not utilize a specific directory structure.

FIG. 5 depicts a directory having rows of entries for a plurality ofservice providers 60. Each row provides the business relationshipbetween a particular provider and the business entities associated withthe plurality of order terminals 40. Each row of entries includes aprovider number (e.g. #1), a provider name (e.g. retailerA.com), theservice provided (e.g. printing), and the business relationship betweenthat particular service provider and the business entities which controlthe order terminals 40. The business relationships include domestic (D),friendly (F), neutral (N) and hostile (X). The directory includes onerow of entries for each of the service providers (#1-#5) 15, 17, 19, 21,and 23, and one column of entries for each of the business entities(A-D) associated with the order terminals 40 in FIG. 3.

It will be understood that the directory normally includes many moreentries for different service providers and business entities, and manyother types of services. These services can include image storage,printing of many different types of photo products, providing digitalstorage media, such as CD-R discs, containing digital images; andproviding associated goods (such as photo albums) and/or services (suchas red-eye reduction algorithms and other picture improvementprocessing) with respect to digital images or hardcopy prints.

It will be further understood that the directory includes, orreferences, many other types of information. In a preferred embodiment,this information includes a description of the services provided and atleast one icon for the service provider, such as a graphic icon of thetrade name of the service provider. This information also includes theaddress and financial account number of the provider and price listswhich are based on the business relationship. The information can alsoinclude information describing the brand names of materials used toprovide the services (e.g. uses Kodak chemical and paper). Theinformation can also describe the delivery methods offered by theservice provider, such as in store pick-up, normal mail delivery,express mail delivery, etc. The information can also include thegeographic area served by the provider (e.g. what countries the providercan serve). It will be understood that the directory can be formattedand stored in various ways. Instead of the four types of relationshipsshown in FIG. 5, a different number of relationships can be used.

In block 106, business rules are defined for listing service providers60 on the order terminals 40. These business rules may be provided bythe service manager 12, as part of the services directory 54, or as partof the locator 56. Alternatively, these business rules may be providedby the business entity controlling the order terminal 60, and stored aspart of the control software for the order terminal. The business rulesdefine how to use the business relationships, provided for example usingthe directory information in FIG. 5, when making an offering to the userof an order terminal. For example, the business rules can indicate thatonly service providers having domestic and friendly relationships shouldbe displayed, or alternatively that service providers having neutralrelationships should also be displayed. The business rules can alsodefine how many different service providers should be listed, andwhether the order in which they are listed should be based on physicallocation, price, and/or other criteria.

In block 108, a customer uses an order terminal associated with aparticular business entity. In block 110, the customer uses the orderterminal 40 to select a desired service. For example, the customer canbring a digital image storage device, such as a PictureCD (oralternatively another type of optical disc or magnetic disc) containingdigitized film images, to photo kiosk 81 and insert it into a CD readerslot (not shown). The display 91 on the photo kiosk can displaythumbnails of the images stored on the PictureCD. The user may desire tomake reprints of some or all of the images stored on the PictureCD. In asecond example, a user can user a photo kiosk 83 to access imagespreviously stored by a photo service provider. The user may desire tomake a photo T-shirt using one of these images as a gift. In a thirdexample, a user may be on vacation, and use the ATM order terminal 85located in a hotel or theme park. The user may desire to upload imagesstored by their digital camera on a memory card. The ATM order terminal85 can include a memory card slot (not shown) for receiving the memorycard. In a fourth example, a user can use a wireless imaging device D87, such as a mobile phone having an image display 97, to view imagespreviously uploaded and stored by a service provider. The user can thenorder additional prints of selected images to be made by the sameprovider, or by a different provider.

In block 112, the service manager 12 uses the business rules to return alist of service providers and service information to the order terminal.This service information can include a description of the servicesprovided, one or more icons for the service provider, and priceinformation, as described earlier in relation to block 104. In someembodiments, the list of service providers is provided by the servicemanager 12 to the order terminal 40 only after a user has selected aparticular service, such as storage or printing. In other embodiments,the list of service providers can be provided by the service provider 12to the order terminal 40 on a daily or weekly basis, for example, andstored for future use.

In block 114, the order terminal 40 displays an offering of services,which can include the prices/fees for the services. The number and orderof the service providers displayed on the order terminal 40 depends onthe business relationship between the service providers and the businessentity associated with the order terminal.

FIG. 6A, FIG. 6B, FIG. 6C, and FIG. 6D depict four different displays ofofferings on four different order terminals (e.g. order terminals 81,83, 85, 87 in FIG. 3) associated with four different business entities.The information displayed on the order terminal display screen (e.g.displays screen 91, 93, 95, and 97 in FIG. 3) is based on the businessrelationship between the business entity associated with the particularorder terminal and the service provider.

FIG. 6A shows an example display offering for photo kiosk order terminal81 in FIG. 3, for the business relationships shown in FIG. 5. A firstscreen 210 includes an icon for the business entity (retailer A) thatcontrols photo kiosk order terminal 81. Screen 210 enables a user toselect a service, such as standard prints or framed enlargements, or toselect an icon to answer questions concerning the system. If the userselects standard prints, screen 212 is displayed on the display 91 oforder terminal 81. Screen 212 includes icons and information for twoprinting service providers, provider #1 (retailerA.com) which has adomestic relationship with business entity A, and provider #3 (FOTO.com)which has a neutral relationship with business entity A, as shown inFIG. 5. Screen 212 does not include an icon or information for provider#2 (retailerB.com) which has a hostile relationship with business entityA. The icon and information for provider #1 (retailerA.com) is shownfirst, since there is a closer relationship with this provider than withprovider #3. The prices displayed also correspond to the businessrelationships. In other words, the prices for provider #1(retailerA.com) are lower when displayed on order terminal 81,controlled by business entity A, since these companies have a domesticrelationship. The prices for provider #1 could be higher when using anorder terminal controlled by a business entity having a friendly or aneutral relationship.

If a user instead selects framed enlargements, screen 214 is displayedon the display 91 of order terminal 81. Since provider #4 (FramesRus)has a friendly relationship with business entity A, while provider #5(Pictures.com) has a neutral relationship, the services offered byprovider #4 are listed first. The friendly business relationship caninclude providing goods directly from the provider #4 to retailer A, asindicated by the “pickup in 48 hours” statement in screen 214.Furthermore, the price differences between providers #4 and #5 mayreflect the different business relationships. Of course, the user maynevertheless choose service provider #5 for some reason, for examplebecause they offer a type of frame not offered by provider #4, orbecause the user has been happier with the quality of their products inthe past.

FIG. 6B shows an example display offering for photo kiosk order terminal83 in FIG. 3, for the business relationships shown in FIG. 5. A firstscreen 220 includes an icon for the business entity (retailer B'sbullfrog) that controls photo kiosk order terminal 83. Screen 220enables a user to select a service, such as standard prints or framedenlargements. If the user selects standard prints, screen 222 isdisplayed on the display 93 of order terminal 83. Screen 222 includesicons and information for two printing service providers, provider #2(retailerB.com) which has a domestic relationship with business entityB, and provider #3 (FOTO.com) which has a neutral relationship withbusiness entity B, as shown in FIG. 5. Screen 222 does not include anicon or information for provider #1 (retailerA.com) which has a hostilerelationship with business entity B. Again, the icon and information forprovider #2 (retailerB.com) is shown first, since there is a closerrelationship with this provider than with provider #3. The pricesdisplayed also correspond to the business relationships.

If a user instead selects framed enlargements, screen 224 is displayedon the display 93 of order terminal 83. Since provider #5 (Pictures.com)has a friendly relationship with business entity B, while provider #5(FramesRus) has a neutral relationship, the services offered by provider#5 are listed first. In this example, the friendly business relationshipbetween business entity B and provider #5 means that the prices forframed prints from “Pictures.com” is less expensive when ordered fromorder terminal 83 than when ordered from order terminal 81, using screen214 in FIG. 6A.

FIG. 6C shows an example display offering for ATM order terminal 85 inFIG. 3, for the business relationships shown in FIG. 5. A first screen230 enables a user to select a service, such as standard prints orframed enlargements. If the user selects standard prints, screen 232 isdisplayed on the display 95 of order terminal 85. Screen 232 includesicons and information for a preferred service provider, provider #3(FOTO.com), which has a friendly relationship with business entity C,which is associated with order terminal 85. Screen 232 also providesicons and information for two printing service providers, provider #2(retailerB.com) and provider #1 (retailerA.com) which have neutralrelationships with business entity C. These two providers are listed inorder of the lowest price. The prices displayed are based on thebusiness relationships, so that the prices for FOTO.com are lessexpensive in screen 232 than in screen 212 of FIG. 6A, for example.

If a user instead selects framed enlargements, screen 234 is displayedon the display 95 of order terminal 85. Both provider #4 (FrarnesRus)and provider #5 (Pictures.com) have a neutral relationship with businessentity C. The order of service providers is again based on price.

FIG. 6D shows an example display offering for wireless imaging device 87in FIG. 3, for the business relationships shown in FIG. 5. In thisexample, the order terminal 87 allows a user to order standard prints,but does not allow a user to order framed enlargements. When the userdecides to order prints, screen 242 is displayed on the display 97 oforder terminal 87. Screen 242 enables the user to select one of twodifferent printing service providers, provider #3 (FOTO.com), which hasa domestic relationship with business entity D, and provider #1(retailerA.com), which has a neutral relationship with business entityD, as shown in FIG. 5. Screen 242 does enable the user to selectprovider #2 (retailerB.com), which has a hostile relationship withbusiness entity A. The information for provider #3 is shown first, sincethere is a closer relationship with this provider than with provider #3.The prices displayed also correspond to the business relationships.

In block 116, the customer selects a particular service provider andcreates an order. For a given user, there are many criterion which canaffect their selection of a service provider either explicitly orimplicitly, and can include any of the following criteria: brand, costof service, specific product characteristics, delivery time, deliverymethod, delivery reach, access time, and/or the ability to ship to aspecific location. Depending on the photo products and services selectedby the user, and the services offered by the selected service provider,it will be understood that the user may be asked to select variousimages to be used (e.g. printed), the number of copies to make, theprint size and finish, etc.

In block 118, the customer provides billing information. In somesituations, this financial transaction with the user may be accomplishedby using the same order terminal 40 to enter a credit card type, accountnumber, and expiration date. This financial transaction with the usercan be handled by the business entity associated with the order terminal40, the service manager 12, or the service provider 60. In mostsituations, the entity which completes the transaction needs to sharesome of the revenue with one or more of the other parties. In othersituations, this financial transaction with the user may be doneseparate from the order terminal 40. For example, the order terminal 40can create a paper or electronic receipt, and the user can then pay forthe products or services they ordered using a separate cash-registertransaction.

In block 120, the images are transferred to the service provider, andthe customer selected photo products or services are provided. As notedearlier, the digital images used to produce the photo products orservices can be input to the order terminal using digital storage media,such as a PictureCD or digital memory card, or by scanning photographicmedia such as prints or film. Alternatively, the digital images mayalready be stored as part of system 10 by one of the service providers40.

In block 124, the photo product is delivered to the customer's designee,which may of course be the customer, a different individual, or alocation such as a retail store designated by the user. The deliverycould be to the same retail store where the kiosk is located, to a storein remote city, or to a home address.

In block 126, the service provider generates a receipt for the serviceprovided. In a preferred embodiment, this is an electronic receipt. Theelectronic receipt can be sent to the business entity associated withthe order terminal 40 which provided the order, and/or to the servicemanager 12.

In block 128, the revenue received from many customers for providing thephoto products or services is reconciled between the business entitiesand service providers involved in the process of selecting the serviceprovider, storing and transferring digital images, and producing anddelivering photo products. Depending on the products and servicesordered by users, various service providers can have other serviceproviders provide goods and/or services for the completion of an order.As a result of such business transactions, certain providers will owe(or will be owed) monies to other service providers and other businessentities.

The system 10 allows for periodic settlements of monies owed byproducing periodic reports that are forwarded to the providers owingmonies to each other. This report may include the net resulting moniesowed, thus minimizing the financial transactions between the providers.The periodic reports can be done on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis asdesired by the parties. In order for the system 10 to properly function,the orders in the system 10 are passed through the service manager 12that keeps track of the business transactions required to complete eachorder. Unique member IDs are used for securing the confidential natureof this information and properly assigning liabilities and/or credits tomember providers.

In an alternate embodiment, each service provider initiates a settlementtransaction report at the completion of their requested and providedservice. In this case, member providers transmit the settlementtransaction report directly between member providers and cause paymentsof monies to flow for each completed service request. The settlementtransaction report is also provided to the service manager 12 fortracking of information related to quality of service and/or financialreliability that impact the credit rating or the standing of a specificmember provider in the services directory 54.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a second embodiment of a system made inaccordance with the present invention. Similar to FIG. 3, photo serviceproviders 60 are connected to a communications network 14. In FIG. 7,however, different business entities are associated with differentdigital storage devices. These digital storage devices can includePicture CD 191 and Picture CD 193 produced by digitization service 181associated with business entity A, and digitization service 183associated with business entity B, respectively, from customer film 180.The Picture CDs 191 and 193 can include both digitized film images andprint enabling software to facilitate printing of images stored on theCD, as described in commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,208,770 to Gilmanet al., the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Inthe present invention, the print enabling software stored on the PictureCDs 191 and 193 preferably enables the images to be uploaded fromDesktop PC 28 to the photo service providers 60 via communicationsnetwork 14. These digital storage devices can also include a memory card195 from a digital camera 185 associated with business entity C, whichsold or loaned the camera to the user. These digital storage devices canalso include a digital camera 187, associated with business entity D,which manufactured the digital camera 187.

An order terminal, such as Desktop PC 28, connects to the communicationsnetwork 14, for example using a dial-up modem or a broadband cable orDSL internet connection. The desktop PC 28 includes a CD reader (notshown) that can read images and other information, such as informationindicating which business entity is associated with the digitizationservice, from Picture CD 191 and Picture CD 193. The desktop PC 28 alsoincludes a card reader (not shown) that can read images and otherinformation, such as information indicating which business entity soldthe digital camera 185, from memory card 195. The desktop PC 28 alsoincludes a docking unit 197 that can read images and other information,such as information indicating which business entity manufactured thedigital camera 187, from the internal memory of digital camera 187.

As described earlier in relation to FIG. 5, a service manager 12maintains a directory of information with respect to the businessrelationship between the business entities A-D, and the serviceproviders 15, 17, 19, 21, and 23.

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram of a second embodiment of a method made inaccordance with the present invention, using the system of FIG. 7. Inblock 100, the business entities associated with the digital storagedevices, the service providers 60, and the parties controlling theservice manager 12 agree on the protocols to be followed by the system,as was described earlier in relation to FIGS. 1-2, and introduce networkconnected equipment and services conforming to these protocols.

In block 102, business relationships are established between the serviceproviders 60 and the business entities associated with the digitalstorage devices 191, 193, 195, and 187. As described earlier, thebusiness relationships can include a “domestic” relationship, where thesame business entity that is associated with the digital storage deviceis also associated with the service provider. For example, a retailermay both provide digitization services, such as scanning film andproducing Picture CDs, and also own or control an on-line photo serviceprovider. In this case, the retailer typically prefers to preferentiallyfeature their “domestic” service provider, when the user later decidesto order prints or services using images stored on the Picture CD, fromone of the service providers 60.

The business relationships can also include a hostile (e.g. competitive)relationship. For example, both retailer A and retailer B may providedigitization services and also provide on-line photo services. In thiscase, retailer A might prefer that the software provided on the PictureCD 191 that they produce will preclude users from accessing servicesprovided by hostile retailer B. As described earlier, the businessrelationships can also include a “friendly” relationship and a “neutral”relationship. A service provider may choose to offer different pricesfor the same services, depending on the business relationship.

In block 104, the service manager 12 populates and maintains a directorythat provides the business relationships between the business entitiesassociated with the digital storage devices 191, 193, 195, and 187, andthe service providers 60. The example directory shown earlier as FIG. 5,and the accompanying description, is also applicable to the embodimentshown in FIG. 7.

In block 106, business rules are defined for listing service providers60 on the order terminals 40, as was described earlier in relation toblock 106 of FIG. 4.

In block 109, a customer obtains a digital storage device from abusiness entity. This can be done by providing exposed customer film 180to business entity A or B, and purchasing a Photo CD 191 or 193. ThePhoto CD 191 or 193 includes an identifying code which identifies thebusiness entity (e.g. retailer A or B) from which the customer purchasedthe Photo CD 191 or 193. It should be noted that in some cases, the samewholesale photofinisher can provide both digitization service A 181 anddigitization service B 183, and include the same print enabling softwarealong with the images on the Picture CDs 191 and 193. The onlydifference is that an identifying code, indicating business entity A isstored on Picture CD 191, and an identifying code, indicating businessentity B, is stored on Picture CD 193.

As another example, a customer may purchase a digital camera 185 or 187,and/or a memory card 195 for their digital camera 185, from retailer Cor manufacturer D. In this case, the camera or memory card can beprogrammed with an identifying code indicating which business entity(e.g. which retailer or manufacturer) sold the product. Alternatively,the camera or card may be sold with a software application on a CD-ROMdisc (not shown) that identifies the business entity.

In block 111, the customer uses their desktop PC 28 as an orderterminal, to select a desired service. For example, the customer insertsPictureCD 191 into a CD reader slot (not shown) in desktop PC 28. Thecomputer display 29 can display thumbnails of the images stored on thePictureCD. The user may desire to make reprints of some or all of theimages stored on the PictureCD using one of the service providers 60. Toenable these reprints to be made using one of the service providers 60,the Picture CD 191 includes application software which communicates withthe service manager 12 via communications network 14.

In block 112, the service manager 12 uses the business rules to return alist of service providers and service information to the desktop PC 28.This service information can include a description of the servicesprovided, one or more icons for the service provider, and priceinformation, as described earlier in relation to block 104 of FIG. 4.

In block 114, the desktop PC 28 serves as order terminal and displays anoffering of services, which normally includes the prices/fees for theservices. The number and order of the service providers displayed ondisplay 29 of PC 28 depends on the business relationship between theservice providers and the business entity associated with the digitalstorage device which stores the digital images, as provided, forexample, in the directory depicted in FIG. 5.

For example, FIG. 6A described earlier in relation to the embodiment ofFIG. 3 is also appropriate for the embodiment of FIG. 7, for the case ofPicture CD 191 associated with business entity A. As described earlier,a first screen 210 in FIG. 6A includes an icon for the business entity(retailer A). Screen 210 enables a user to select a service, such asstandard prints or framed enlargements, or to select an icon to answerquestions concerning the system. If the user selects standard prints,screen 212 is displayed. Screen 212 includes icons and information fortwo printing service providers, provider #1 (retailerA.com) which has adomestic relationship with business entity A, and provider #3 (FOTO.com)which has a neutral relationship with business entity A, as shown inFIG. 5. Screen 212 does not include an icon or information for provider#2 (retailerB.com), which has a hostile relationship with businessentity A. The icon and information for provider #1 (retailerA.com) isshown first, since there is a closer relationship with this providerthan with provider #3. The prices displayed also correspond to thebusiness relationships.

If a user instead selects framed enlargements, screen 214 is displayed.Since provider #4 (FramesRus) has a friendly relationship with businessentity A, while provider #5 (Pictures.com) has a neutral relationship,the services offered by provider #4 are listed first. The friendlybusiness relationship can include providing goods directly from theprovider #4 to retailer A, as indicated by the “pickup in 48 hours”statement in screen 214. Furthermore, the price differences betweenproviders #4 and #5 may reflect the different business relationships.

In block 116, the customer selects a particular service provider andcreates an order. As mentioned earlier, for a given user, there are manycriterion which can affect their selection of a service provider eitherexplicitly or implicitly, and can include any of the following criteria:brand, cost of service, specific product characteristics, delivery time,delivery method, delivery reach, access time, and/or the ability to shipto a specific location. Depending on the photo products and servicesselected by the user, and the services offered by the selected serviceprovider, it will be understood that the user may be asked to selectvarious images to be used (e.g. printed), the number of copies to make,the print size and finish, etc.

In block 118, the customer provides billing information. In manysituations, this is accomplished by the user entering a credit cardtype, account number, and expiration date.

In block 120, the images are transferred from the digital storage device(such as PictureCD 191) to the service provider, and the customerselected photo products or services are provided.

In block 124, the photo product is delivered to the customer's designee,which may of course be the customer, a different individual, or alocation such as a retail store designated by the user.

In block 126, the service provider generates a receipt for the serviceprovided, as described earlier in relation to block 126 of FIG. 4.

In block 128, the revenue received from many customers for providing thephoto products or services is reconciled between the business entitiesand service providers involved in the process of creating the digitalimages, selling the digitization service or digital camera, selectingthe service provider, storing and transferring digital images, andproducing and delivering photo products, as described earlier inrelation to block 128 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a third embodiment of a system made inaccordance with the present invention. In this system, differentbusiness entities are associated with different order terminals. Forexample, business entity A (retailer A) is associated with photo kioskorder terminal 82, which includes a display 92 and a local printer 86.Business entity B (retailer B) is associated with photo kiosk orderterminal 84, which includes a display 94 and a local printer 88. Theorder terminals 82 and 84 are connected via communications network 14 tonetwork printers 96 and 98.

The order terminals 82 and 84 can read digital images and informationfrom various digital storage devices. These digital storage devices caninclude Picture CD 191 produced by digitization service 181 associatedwith service provider #1 and Picture CD 193 produced by digitizationservice 183 associated with service provider #2, from customer film 180.As described earlier, the Picture CDs 191 and 193 include both digitizedfilm images and a code which identifying the service provider associatedwith the digital storage device. These digital storage devices can alsoinclude a memory card 195 from a digital camera 185 associated withcamera provider #3, which sold or loaned the camera to the user and adigital camera 187, associated with service provider #4.

As described earlier, a service manager 12 maintains a directory ofinformation with respect to the business relationship between thebusiness entities A-B, and the service providers #1-#4.

FIG. 10 is a flow diagram of a third embodiment of a method made inaccordance with the present invention, using the system of FIG. 9. Inblock 400, the service providers associated with the digital storagedevices, and the business entities associated with the order terminals,agree on the protocols to be followed by the system, as was describedearlier in relation to FIGS. 1-2, and introduce equipment and servicesconforming to these protocols.

In block 402, business relationships are established between the serviceproviders associated with the digital storage devices and the businessentities associated with the order terminals. As described earlier, thebusiness relationships can include a “domestic” relationship, where thebusiness entity is associated with both the order terminal and thedigital storage device. For example, a retailer may both providedigitization services, such as scanning film and producing Picture CDs,and also own or control an on-line photo service provider. In this case,the retailer may wish to provide order terminals which give preferentialservices and/or prices to users of their digital storage devices.

As described earlier, the business relationships can also include ahostile (e.g. competitive) relationship. For example, both retailer Aand retailer B may provide digitization services and also provide orderterminals. In this case, retailer A might prefer that their orderterminal 82 and local printer 86 preclude users from accessing andprinting digital images provided on a digital storage media associatedwith a service provider with which they have a hostile relationship. Asdescribed earlier, the business relationships can also include a“friendly” relationship and a “neutral” relationship. Different orderterminals could offer different prices for the same services, dependingon the business relationship.

In block 404, the service manager 12 populates and maintains a directorythat provides the business relationships between the business entitiesassociated with the order terminals, and the service providersassociated with the digital storage devices.

In block 406, a customer obtains a digital storage device from a serviceprovider. As described earlier in relation to FIGS. 7-8, this can bedone by providing exposed customer film 180 to service provider #1 or#2, and purchasing a Photo CD 191 or 193. The Photo CD 191 or 193includes a code that identifies the service provider. A customer maypurchase a digital camera 185 or 187, and/or a memory card 195 for theirdigital camera 185, from camera provider #3 or #4. In this case, thecamera or memory card can be programmed with an identifying codeindicating which provider (e.g. which retailer or manufacturer) sold theproduct.

In block 408, the customer uses an order terminal associated with aparticular business entity. For example, the customer can bring adigital image storage device, such as PictureCD 191 containing digitizedfilm images, to photo kiosk order terminal 82 and insert it into a CDreader slot (not shown). The display 92 on the photo kiosk orderterminal 82 can display thumbnails of the images stored on the PictureCD191. The user may desire to make reprints of some or all of the imagesstored on the PictureCD on the local printer 86, or optionally using oneof the network printers 96 or 98.

In block 410, the service manager 12 provides information concerning theprovider of the digital storage device to the order terminal. This canbe done by the order terminal sending the identifying code of thedigital storage device to the service manager, and the service managerreturning the business relationship between the business entityassociated with the order terminal and the service provider associatedwith the digital storage device. It can optionally include additionalservice information, such as price information for local printing or adescription, icons, and price information for the services that can beprovided by network printers 96 and 98.

In block 412, the order terminal displays (e.g. using display 92 oforder terminal 82) an offering of products and services, which normallyincludes the prices for the products and services. The offering,including the prices, depends on the business relationship between thebusiness entity associated with the order terminal, and the serviceprovider associated with the digital storage device which stores thedigital images. For example, the price for locally printing imagesstored on Picture CD 191 can be different than the price for locallyprinting images stored on Picture CD 193, since there can be differentbusiness relationships involved.

In block 414, the customer orders a digital photo product using theorder terminal. The photo product may be produced locally (e.g. printedon local printer 86) or produced by service provider connected viacommunications network 14. In block 420, the images are transferred fromthe digital storage device (e.g. Photo CD 191). In block 422, thecustomer selected photo products or services are provided.

In block 424, the photo product is delivered to the customer's designee,which may of course be the customer, a different individual, or alocation such as a retail store designated by the user.

In block 426, the service provider generates a receipt for the serviceprovided, as described earlier in relation to block 126 of FIG. 4.

In block 428, the revenue received from many customers for providing thephoto products or services is reconciled between the business entitiesand service providers involved in the process of creating the digitalimages, selling the digitization service or digital camera, selectingthe service provider, storing and transferring digital images, andproducing and delivering photo products, as described earlier inrelation to block 128 of FIG. 4.

As can be seen from the foregoing, the requester of services now has theability to quickly retrieve a number of different photo serviceproviders without being restricted to a single brand or type providernor limited to the type or style of products. In addition, the providercan concentrate on their core competencies and still increase thepotential number of customer for it's goods and/or services. Inaddition, the business entity associated with particular order terminalscan ensure that preference is given to service providers with which theyhave established a preferred business relationship.

As previously described various criteria may be used for finding asuitable provider based on a review of information stored on the system10 that was provided by the provider. This information can bedynamically changed according to the needs and/or requirements of theprovider. Thus, a provider may provide a price list for a particularservice and a particular business relationship, that may last for only ashort period of time due to a special promotion and/or to meet the workflow requirements of the provider. The system 10 permits the provider todynamically update the stored information in the services directory 54.The update may occur as frequently as desired, or can be programmed tolast for a predetermined time period. For example, a provider may setlow price for a given product or service and one hour later change theprice to a different price based on a predetermined criterion such aswork flow capacity. In addition, if too many orders are received by aprovider, for example by having a very attractive price, the system 10may be configured to automatically forward additional orders to adifferent provider that the first provider may have a prearrangedrelationship.

A computer program product can include one or more storage media, forexample; magnetic storage media such as magnetic disk (such as a floppydisk) or magnetic tape; optical storage media such as optical disk oroptical tape, or machine readable bar code; solid-state electronicstorage devices such as random access memory (RAM), or read-only memory(ROM); or any other physical device or media employed to store acomputer program having instructions for practicing a method accordingto the present invention.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to theexamples described above ant that various changes may be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention, the present inventionbeing defined by the claims that follow.

1. A method comprising: providing a network service on a network, thenetwork service including digital photo services provided by a pluralityof service providers; allowing a user to access a network server via thenetwork service using an order terminal connected to the network forordering at least one of the digital photo services; inserting into theorder terminal a digital storage device carried by the user and havingan image stored thereon for use by at least one of said serviceproviders to provide one of said digital photo services therefor, andhaving a code stored thereon for use by the network service to identifyone of a plurality of business entities, said one of the plurality ofbusiness entities being associated with the digital storage device, theplurality of business entities each having a predefined businessrelationship with each of said plurality of service providers; readingthe digital storage device to obtain image data for the image storedthereon and to obtain the code; maintaining relationship data of thepredefined business relationships between each of said business entitiesand each of service providers in a database coupled to the network, therelationship data including rankings of the predefined businessrelationships between each of said business entities and each of theservice providers; accessing the database and using the code to obtain aranking of predefined business relationships between said one of theplurality of business entities identified by the code and said pluralityof service providers; displaying to the user an order screen on theorder terminal, the order screen including purchasing information forordering said at least one of the digital photo services for the image,the purchasing information generated and transmitted by the server overthe network, the purchasing information including at least one of theplurality of service providers, and the purchasing information capableof being modified by the server in response to the ranking of thepredefined business relationships between said one of the plurality ofbusiness entities identified by the code and said plurality of serviceproviders, wherein the purchasing information includes a purchase priceand a service provider that provides said at least one of the digitalphoto services; and modifying the purchasing information to include alower purchase price in response to a high ranking of a predefinedbusiness relationships between said one of the plurality of businessentities and the service provider that provides said at least one of thedigital photo services.
 2. The method according to claim 1 wherein saidorder terminal comprises one of the following: an automated tellermachine; a kiosk; a personal computer; or a wireless device.
 3. Themethod according to claim 1 wherein said digital storage devicecomprises one of the following: optical disc; magnetic floppy disc;flash memory device; or a digital camera.
 4. A method comprising:providing a network service on a network, the network service includingdigital photo services provided by a plurality of service providers;allowing a user to access a network server via the network service usingan order terminal connected to the network for ordering at least one ofthe digital photo services; inserting into the order terminal a digitalstorage device carried by the user and having an image stored thereonfor use by at least one of said service providers to provide one of saiddigital photo services therefor, and having a code stored thereon foruse by the network service to identify one of a plurality of businessentities, said one of the plurality of business entities beingassociated with the digital storage device, the plurality of businessentities each having a predefined business relationship with each ofsaid plurality of service providers; reading the digital storage deviceto obtain image data for the image stored thereon and to obtain thecode; maintaining relationship data of the predefined businessrelationships between each of said business entities and each of serviceproviders in a database coupled to the network, the relationship dataincluding rankings of the predefined business relationships between eachof said business entities and each of the service providers; accessingthe database and using the code to obtain a ranking of predefinedbusiness relationships between said one of the plurality of businessentities identified by the code and said plurality of service providers;displaying to the user an order screen on the order terminal, the orderscreen including purchasing information for ordering said at least oneof the digital photo services for the image, the purchasing informationgenerated and transmitted by the server over the network, the purchasinginformation including at least one of the plurality of serviceproviders, and the purchasing information capable of being modified bythe server in response to the ranking of the predefined businessrelationships between said one of the plurality of business entitiesidentified by the code and said plurality of service providers; anddisplaying different types of products and/or services on the orderscreen for the user to select, the different types of products and/orservices each provided by two or more of the plurality of serviceproviders, wherein some of the products and/or services are displayedmore prominently in response to a higher ranking of the predefinedbusiness relationships between said one of the plurality of businessentities and said two or more of the plurality of service providers. 5.The method according to claim 4 wherein the ranking of said predefinedbusiness relationships includes at least three levels.
 6. The methodaccording to claim 4 wherein the step of maintaining relationship datais performed by a service manager using a table in a database of theserver.
 7. The method according to claim 4, further comprising the stepof including or not including a purchasing convenience feature in thepurchasing information in response to the ranking of the predefinedbusiness relationships between said one of the plurality of businessentities and said plurality of service providers.
 8. The methodaccording to claim 4 wherein said at least one of the digital photoservices comprises one or more of the following: local printing ofdigital images; remote printing of digital images; on-line storage ofdigital images; providing digital storage media containing digitalimages; and providing associated goods and/or services with respect tohard copy prints.
 9. A system for ordering products over a network,comprising: an order terminal connected to the network, the orderterminal capable of reading image data from a digital storage device,the storage device having stored thereon an image for which a user canorder products and/or services from a plurality of service providersover the network via the order terminal, the storage device associatedwith one of a plurality of business entities; a database connected tothe network for storing rankings of business relationships between thebusiness entities and the service providers; and an order screenconnected to the order terminal for presenting to the user a firstpurchase offer related to a product and/or service for the image andincluding at least two of the plurality of service providers, wherein(1) the service providers that are included in the first purchase offerwe selected according to their having higher rankings according to aranking of the business relationships between said one of a plurality ofbusiness entities and said plurality of service providers, (2) said atleast two service providers are arranged on the order screen such thatone of said at least two service providers is displayed more prominentlybased on said ranking, and (3) the purchase offer includes rower pricesfor some service providers in response to their having a higher rankaccording to the ranking of the business relationships between said oneof a plurality of business entities and said plurality of serviceproviders.
 10. The system according to claim 9 wherein the purchaseoffer is formatted so that service providers having a higher rankingbusiness relationship with said one of a plurality of business entitiesare listed first.
 11. The system according to claim 9 wherein said orderterminal comprises one of the following: an automated teller machine; acatalog kiosk; a personal computer; or a wireless device.
 12. The systemaccording to claim 9 wherein said service providers provide one or moreof the following: local printing of digital images; remote printing ofdigital images; on-line storage of digital images; providing digitalstorage media containing digital images; and providing associated goodsand/or services with respect to hard copy prints.
 13. The systemaccording to claim 9 wherein said digital storage device comprises oneof the following: optical disc; magnetic floppy disc; flash memorydevice; or a digital camera.